Psychodynamic counselling is a form of therapy that explores how past experiences, often from childhood, shape a person's current thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and relationships. It's based on the principles of psychoanalysis, initially developed by Sigmund Freud, but has evolved over time and includes contributions from various theorists.

Key elements of psychodynamic counselling include:

1. Unconscious processes: Emphasis on understanding how unconscious thoughts, feelings, and conflicts influence behavior.
2. Exploration of the past: Focuses on childhood experiences, early relationships, and how these shape current patterns and beliefs.
3. Therapeutic relationship: Central to the process, the relationship between the counselor and the client provides an opportunity to explore feelings, thoughts, and conflicts.
4. Interpretation: The counselor helps the client explore and understand unconscious factors that may contribute to their current difficulties. This often involves interpretation of feelings, dreams, and recurring patterns.
5. Insight and self-awareness: The goal is to foster insight into one's own thoughts and behaviors, leading to greater self-awareness and personal growth.

Psychodynamic counselling aims to help individuals understand how their past experiences influence their present emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. By bringing unconscious conflicts and patterns into awareness, clients can gain insight and work towards resolving issues, improving relationships, and developing healthier coping mechanisms.

It's important to note that while psychodynamic counselling shares roots with psychoanalysis, it's typically less intensive and time-consuming, focusing more on shorter-term therapeutic goals. The approach has evolved and integrated various techniques and theories, making it more adaptable to different individuals and situations.